Eagles release 14 players ahead of NFL deadline

The Eagles made their first round of cuts in the preseason Saturday morning, releasing 14 players to get down to 76.

(Photo: AP)

The only somewhat mild surprises were linebacker Jake Knott, who had made the team last season as a reserve; and defensive lineman Joe Kruger.

Knott missed the last four weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury and was facing a four-game suspension for using a performance enhancing drug. Kruger was the Eagles' seventh-round pick last season, coming out as a junior. He spent last season on injured reserve.

The first deadline for cuts is Tuesday, when teams need to be at 75. Eagles coach Chip Kelly said he wanted to do it now in order for those players to latch on with another team. Also, he didn't want them taking snaps the next three days of practice from those who need the reps.

That leaves one more player to cut. But that might come at wide receiver because Josh Huff is out with a shoulder injury and Arrelious Benn is in the NFL's concussion protocol.

"We just didn't feel that it was beneficial to the players to have them practice [four more days], then cut them in the afternoon on Tuesday," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. "See if they can catch on with someone else in this last week … That's just the approach we took with this group."

Interestingly, none of the nine University of Oregon players were released. If that holds till the final list of 75, that would make 12 percent of the roster former Oregon players. When asked about the large number of his former Ducks, Kelly replied: "I like having good football players, and we think the guys we have are good football players. There are another 20-30 other Oregon guys in this league on other teams. They're good football players … That's how we look at it."

In other news:

X-LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin practiced Saturday. McCoy left the preseason game in the first quarter with a sprained thumb while Maclin had a knee injury scare when it buckled while running a route. Maclin stayed in the game. Also, cornerbacks Cary Williams and Brandon Boykin returned to practice after sitting out Thursday with hamstring injuries. WR Brad Smith returned as well after sitting out with a groin injury.

X-LB Connor Barwin and S Malcolm Jenkins didn't practice. It's not known what their injuries are, although Barwin seemed to have a sleeve on his knee.

X-Kelly said none of the starters and some of the second stringers won't play in the preseason finale Thursday against the Jets. That means quarterbacks Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez won't play, and Matt Barkley will start and play extensively.

Also, running back Darren Sproles won't play, but Chris Polk, who returned Saturday after missing just about four weeks of practice with a hamstring injury, is expected to. At safety, Kelly said Earl Wolff will play and Nate Allen won't. When asked if that means that Allen is the starter for the season, Kelly responded: "Earl needs a lot more reps."